New lead in hunt for missing chef Claudia Lawrence

Police investigating the disappearance of university chef Claudia Lawrence are
following up a new lead following a national television appeal.

Police investigating the disappearance of missing chef Claudia Lawrence say they have a new leadPhoto: PA

7:30AM GMT 27 Feb 2010

New CCTV footage of the missing 35-year-old was shown on the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Thursday night and a fresh appeal for information was made by Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway, who is leading the inquiry for North Yorkshire Police.

Miss Lawrence was last seen near her home in Heworth, York, on March 18 last year and failed to arrive for work the following morning.

Police are treating the investigation into her disappearance as one of suspected murder.

On Friday, a North Yorkshire Police spokesman said the force had received a number of calls after the programme.

The spokesman said: ''Following last night's appeal on BBC Crimewatch, in excess of 30 calls were received by officers investigating Claudia's disappearance.

''A potentially significant lead is being investigated; however, we are unable to give any further details at this stage due to operational reasons.''

Friends and family of Miss Lawrence were gathering in the centre of York today for a special ''awareness day'' on the eve of her 36th birthday.